Finding sunglasses for a big head is already difficult. Finding sunglasses that are both extra wide and work well with a lower nose bridge or higher cheekbones can be considerably harder.
That's because these are actually two different fitting problems.
Big-head sunglasses solve a width problem. Asian fit, or low bridge fit, sunglasses solve a nose and facial-fit problem.
If you need both, your options become much more limited.
Most extra-wide sunglasses are designed primarily to provide more room across the temples. Most low bridge sunglasses are designed primarily around how the frame sits on the nose and cheeks.
But having a 165 mm-wide frame doesn't automatically mean it will work well with a lower nose bridge. And having the perfect low bridge design doesn't help much if the frame is squeezing the sides of your head.
Here's what to look for if you need both.
What Are Asian Fit Sunglasses?
"Asian fit" is an eyewear term traditionally used for frames designed to accommodate facial characteristics that are common among many people of East Asian descent, including a lower nose bridge and higher cheekbones.
Today, you'll also frequently see these frames described as low bridge fit sunglasses.
That's arguably the more useful description because the fit isn't really about ethnicity. It's about facial geometry.
People of any ethnicity can have a lower nose bridge or higher cheekbones and experience the same problems with conventional sunglasses.
If standard sunglasses constantly slide down your nose, sit against your cheeks or move upward when you smile, bridge fit may be part of the problem.
What Does Asian Fit Mean If You Have a Big Head?
This is where things become more complicated.
Someone with a big head may already need sunglasses substantially wider than conventional frames.
At Faded Days, our main frame widths range from:
- Regular: 139 mm
- Large: 145 mm
- XL: 155 mm
- XXL: 165 mm
Someone who needs a 155 mm or 165 mm frame is solving a different problem from someone who simply needs a different nose bridge.
And some people need both.
You might need 165 mm of total frame width so the sunglasses don't squeeze your temples, while also needing a smaller bridge or lower-profile frame because of how conventional sunglasses sit on your nose and cheeks.
That's the niche within the niche.
How Do You Know If You Have a Low Nose Bridge?
Rather than worrying too much about whether you technically have a "low bridge," look at what your current sunglasses actually do.
Signs that bridge fit may be causing a problem include:
- Your sunglasses regularly slide down your nose.
- The bottom of the lenses or frame rests against your cheeks.
- Your cheeks push the sunglasses upward when you smile.
- Your eyelashes touch the lenses.
- The glasses feel unstable even though they aren't necessarily too wide.
- You constantly push the frame back up your nose.
Those symptoms are different from the classic signs of a frame that's simply too narrow.
If the temples bow outward, the frame squeezes the sides of your head, or you develop pressure around your temples, width is more likely to be the problem.
If you experience problems from both lists, you may need extra-wide sunglasses that also work better with your particular bridge and facial structure.
Why Big-Head Sunglasses and Asian Fit Sunglasses Solve Different Problems
It's useful to think of sunglasses fit as having several independent dimensions.
Frame width determines whether the sunglasses have enough room across your head.
Bridge fit helps determine where and how the sunglasses rest on your nose.
Temple length affects how the arms extend around your head and ears.
Lens height and frame position affect how close the sunglasses sit to your cheeks.
Changing one doesn't automatically fix the others.
For example, making a frame wider doesn't necessarily change how it sits on your nose.
Likewise, changing the bridge doesn't make a narrow frame wide enough for a large head.
This is why someone searching for Asian fit sunglasses for a big head needs to consider both overall width and facial fit.
Why Lens Height Matters With a Low Bridge
Frame width and bridge size aren't the only measurements worth considering.
Lens height can matter too.
If you have higher cheekbones or your sunglasses naturally sit lower on your nose, a tall frame may make contact with your cheeks.
You might notice the sunglasses moving upward when you smile or feel the bottom of the frame resting against your face.
A lower lens height can provide more clearance between the frame and cheeks.
That's particularly relevant when you're shopping for sunglasses for a large head. A frame can be perfectly wide enough but still be uncomfortable because of its vertical dimensions and where it sits on your face.
So if cheek contact has been a problem in the past, don't look at width alone.
What If You Need 165 mm XXL Sunglasses and a Smaller Bridge?
This is where the choices become much thinner.
Plenty of eyewear companies offer low bridge glasses in conventional sizes. And there are now more companies offering sunglasses for larger heads.
Finding a frame that combines true XXL width with dimensions that may work better for someone who also struggles with bridge or cheek fit is a much narrower search.
At Faded Days, our Gentleman XXL sunglasses measure 165 mm across the frame, providing the width needed for genuinely large heads.
They also have a smaller bridge and lower lens height than our Refined Gentleman XXL.
That combination makes the Gentleman particularly interesting for someone whose problem isn't simply that ordinary sunglasses are too narrow.
The lower lens profile may provide more clearance around the cheeks, while the smaller bridge may be better suited to some people who find larger bridges don't sit correctly on their nose.
There's an important qualification here:
The Gentleman XXL isn't a formally designated Asian fit frame.
Faces vary far too much for us to claim that one frame will automatically solve every low-bridge fitting problem.
But if you need a genuinely wide 165 mm frame and also find that conventional bridges or taller lenses don't sit comfortably on your face, the Gentleman XXL is one of the Faded Days frames we'd suggest looking at first.
Are Asian Fit Sunglasses Always Wider?
No.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Asian fit eyewear.
Asian fit does not automatically mean wide fit.
A low bridge frame can still have an ordinary overall frame width.
Likewise, an XXL frame can have conventional bridge geometry.
If you have a big head, don't assume that a product described as "Asian fit" will automatically provide enough width.
Look for the actual measurements.
For someone who already knows ordinary sunglasses are too tight, total frame width is particularly important.
At Faded Days, our XL frames measure 155 mm and our XXL frames measure 165 mm.
Those numbers tell you considerably more about how wide the sunglasses actually are than an XL or XXL label alone.
What About Wide Faces?
A wide face and a big head aren't necessarily the same thing either.
Someone can have a broad facial structure without needing an extremely wide frame around the temples. Likewise, someone can have a large head without particularly prominent cheekbones or a low nose bridge.
This is another reason generic terms can become confusing.
Rather than trying to decide which face-shape category you belong to, concentrate on the problems you're trying to solve.
Too tight at the temples? Look at frame width.
Sliding down the nose? Look at bridge fit.
Resting on your cheeks? Look at bridge fit and lens height.
Experiencing all three? You probably need to consider all of those dimensions together.
Can You Get Prescription Glasses for a Big Head and Low Bridge?
Yes, provided the frame is suitable for prescription lenses and your prescription falls within the available parameters.
This is another area where combining requirements can make shopping difficult.
You may need:
extra-wide frame + suitable bridge dimensions + lower lens profile + prescription lenses
rather than simply "prescription glasses."
Selected Faded Days wide and XXL frames are available with prescription lenses, including single-vision and progressive options, prescription sunglasses and polarized prescription sunglasses.
If you're ordering prescription eyewear, getting the frame right becomes particularly important because you're likely to wear the glasses for extended periods and the lenses are being manufactured specifically for you.
Explore our prescription glasses for large heads.
How Should You Measure Sunglasses for a Big Head?
If width is part of your problem, start by measuring a pair of glasses that fits you reasonably well.
Measure the total width across the front of the frame and compare that with the published dimensions of the sunglasses you're considering.
At Faded Days, our principal widths are:
- 139 mm Regular
- 145 mm Large
- 155 mm XL
- 165 mm XXL
Bridge width, lens dimensions and temple length provide additional useful information.
However, don't assume the numerical bridge width alone tells you whether a pair will work with your facial structure.
Two frames with similar bridge measurements can sit differently because their overall geometry is different.
Measurements are extremely useful, but how those measurements work together matters too.
Use our Faded Days sunglasses fitting guide to compare sizes and measurements.
Should You Search for "Asian Fit" or "Low Bridge Fit"?
It's worth searching for both.
"Asian fit" remains a commonly understood eyewear term and is still used by shoppers looking for this type of frame.
"Low bridge fit" describes the actual fitting requirement more precisely.
Different eyewear companies use different terminology, so limiting yourself to one phrase can unnecessarily restrict your search.
But if you also have a large head, make that part of your search.
The real challenge isn't simply finding low bridge sunglasses.
It's finding low bridge or Asian fit sunglasses that are also genuinely wide enough for a big head.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asian Fit Sunglasses for Big Heads
What are Asian fit sunglasses?
Asian fit sunglasses are designed to better accommodate facial characteristics such as a lower nose bridge and higher cheekbones. They're also commonly referred to as low bridge fit sunglasses.
Are Asian fit sunglasses good for big heads?
Not necessarily. Asian fit primarily describes how a frame accommodates the nose and facial structure rather than its overall width. If you have a big head, check the total frame width separately.
Are Asian fit sunglasses wider than regular sunglasses?
Not automatically. Some may be wider, but low bridge fit and wide fit are different characteristics. Someone with a big head may need both an extra-wide frame and dimensions that work with a lower bridge or higher cheekbones.
What size sunglasses should I look for if I have a big head?
There isn't one universal size. Faded Days offers Large frames at 145 mm, XL at 155 mm and XXL at 165 mm. Comparing the total width with a pair you already own is usually more useful than relying solely on an XL or XXL label.
What sunglasses should I consider for a big head and low nose bridge?
Look for sunglasses that address both problems: enough total frame width for your head and bridge and lens dimensions that work with your facial structure. If you're particularly sensitive to frames touching your cheeks, lens height is also worth considering.
Which Faded Days sunglasses should I consider for a big head and lower nose bridge?
The Gentleman XXL is a good place to start. It measures 165 mm across the frame for a genuinely wide fit while also having a smaller bridge and lower lens height than our Refined Gentleman XXL. Those dimensions may work particularly well for customers who need extra width but find that conventional bridges or taller frames don't sit comfortably on their face.
Does Faded Days make Asian fit sunglasses?
We don't label the Gentleman XXL as a universally defined Asian fit frame. Instead, we publish its actual measurements so you can determine whether its 165 mm width, smaller bridge and lower lens height are appropriate for the fitting problems you're trying to solve.
Are Asian fit sunglasses only for Asian people?
No. The term originated around facial characteristics common among many people of East Asian descent, but anyone with similar facial geometry may benefit from this type of eyewear. "Low bridge fit" describes the fitting requirement more directly.
Can I get prescription glasses for a big head and low nose bridge?
Yes, where the chosen frame and prescription are compatible. Selected Faded Days wide and XXL frames can be fitted with prescription lenses.
If You Have a Big Head and a Low Bridge, Solve Both Problems
The biggest mistake is assuming one feature automatically solves the other.
XXL doesn't mean low bridge fit.
And:
Asian fit doesn't mean XXL.
If ordinary sunglasses squeeze your temples, pay attention to total frame width.
If sunglasses slide down your nose, pay attention to bridge fit.
If frames rest against your cheeks, pay attention to bridge fit and lens height.
And if you experience several of these problems at once, look at how all of those measurements work together.
That's a much smaller eyewear category, but it's also a much better place to start than buying another pair of sunglasses that solves only half the problem.